2009 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
151 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
38,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 118 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 151 complaints (53.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 52 | 34.4% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 7.3% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 80 |
| Engine | 24 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 80; Engine: 24; Air Bags: 15; Exterior Lighting: 9; Electrical System: 8; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 13; 2015: 21; 2016: 23; 2017: 15; 2018: 17; 2019: 9; 2020: 16; 2021: 4; 2022: 5; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 52 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10661348 · 2014-11-30 (November 30, 2014)
STRONG GAS SMELL AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK. CAN BE SMELLED IN CAR AND OVERWHELMS GARAGE IF TANK IS OVER HALF FULL.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661826 · 2014-12-02 (December 2, 2014)
HI, I BOUGHT THE CORVETTE USED. THE FIRST TIME I FILLED IT ALL THE UP WITH GAS I NOTICED A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL THE NEXT DAY IN MY GARAGE. I HOPED IT WOULD GO AWAY OR IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WASN'T AWARE OF ABOUT THE CAR SINCE I JUST BOUGHT IT USED. THE NEXT TIME I FILLED IT UP THE SAME THING THE WHOLE GARAGE SMELLED LIKE GAS THE NEXT DAY. DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE ALLOT OF THE C6 CORVETTES WITH THIS DEFECT. IF YOU FILL THE CAR UP OVER HALF FULL GAS LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK DOWN THE INSIDE AND ON TO THE TAILPIPE. C…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334331 · 2010-06-02 (June 2, 2010)
THE SERVICE ABS SYSTEM, SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ALERTS CAME ON AFTER SIMPLY STARTING THE CAR. CAR RAN SLUGGISH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR EARLIER YEARS CORVETTES: TSB 06.02.35.002A AND TSB 06.02.35.002B. BUT MY CORVETTE IS A 2009 AND I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE A TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL SET TO AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT AND EXTEND. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10346761 · 2010-08-02 (August 2, 2010)
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2009 CORVETTE Z06 WHICH REPEATEDLY DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING." MY VIN IS: [XXX] WHILE I HAVE NOT DETECTED ANY OPERATIONAL INTERVENTIONS MYSELF, OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SUDDEN ERRATIC BRAKING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE DIRECTION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT GM RECTIFIES THIS DEFECT BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RECALL INVOLVING THIS ISSUE (NHTSA NO: 10V17200…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10346761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583860 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)
AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN CAR GOES OVER A BUMP, OR DURING QUICK STOP, OR SHARP TURN. THIS LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE SEATS. *TR SINCE THE LIGHT COMES ON DURING HARD STEERING MOTION, BUMP, OR RAPID DECELERATION, I ASSUME THE AIR BAGS ARE UNLIKELY TO DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292054 · 2009-11-13 (November 13, 2009)
2009 C6 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE 1. MY WIFE & I GOT INTO ACR TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. THE BATTERY FAILED WHEN I PRESSED IGNITION BUTTON. WE WERE LOCKED IN CAR WHICH HAS NO MANUAL DOOR HANDLES. 2. WE ESCAPED VEHICLE BY REMOVING ROOF PANEL AND CLIMBING OUT OF ROOF. 3. CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED US OF EMERGENCY DRIVER SIDE DOOR RELEASE IN THE BACK HATCH ON REAR WHEEL WELL THAT MUST BE PULLED TOWARD BACK OF CAR. IF INSIDE CAR, PASSENGER MUST CRAWL BETWEEN SEATS TO ACCESS THE RELEASE. WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS RELEASE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369301 · 2010-12-06 (December 6, 2010)
THE POWER IN MY CAR (2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE) TURNED OFF AFTER I ENTERED THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR. SINCE THE DOORS ARE OPERATED ELECTRICALLY I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS TO GET OUT. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE CAR I HAD TO REMOVE THE REMOVABLE HARDTOP AND CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR. IF I DID NOT HAVE A REMOVABLE HARDTOP I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CAR HAS LOST ELECTRICAL POWER/SHUT DOWN AFTER I HAVE ENTERED THE CAR. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121987 · 2018-08-23 (August 23, 2018)
VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153730 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)
CAR WILL NOT START WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK. BATTERY IS NEW AND FULLY CHARGED. PREVIOUS TO THIS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE FAILED SUDDENLY LEAVING ME STUCK IN PARK.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318640 · 2020-03-18 (March 18, 2020)
I EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT AN UNEXPECTED TIME. THIS OCCURRED DURING A HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVER EDUCATION EVENT AT AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY IN FONTANA, CA. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE MOMENT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE EXHAUST VALVES SEPARATED FROM THE VALVE STEM AND FELL INTO THE CYLINDER, DESTROYING THE CYLINDER HEAD, PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL. THE ENGINE MODEL IN MY 2009 CORVETTE IS THE LS7. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON 'LS7 DROPPED VALVES' WILL F…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,133 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11323493 · 2020-05-06 (May 6, 2020)
MY ENGINE EXPERIENCED VALVE GUIDE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND SPILLED OIL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323493 at NHTSA ↗